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Table 2 Primary outcomes over the 12-week treatment period

From: Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled study

 

MSM (n = 25)

Placebo (n = 25)

 

Significance for between group differences at follow-ups

 

6 weeks

12 weeks

Difference 0-12 wk [CI]

6 weeks

12 weeks

Difference 0-12 wk [CI]

Between group difference [CI]

0-6 wks

0-12 wks

WOMAC

         

   Pain

35.5 ± 26.1

34.0 ± 24.5

-9.0 ± 24.0 [-18.9, 0.9]

47.1 ± 26.6

49.4 ± 20.8

3.5 ± 19.3 [-4.5, 11.5]

12.4 [0.0, 24.8]

0.20

0.05*

   Stiffness

39.2 ± 31.0

36.0 ± 26.2

-11.7 ± 30.7 [-24.3, 1.0]

52.9 ± 30.4

58.5 ± 24.2

15.5 ± 35.8 [0.7, 30.3]

27.2 [8.2, 46.2]

0.03*

0.01*

   Function

36.6 ± 23.7

33.1 ± 23.1

-7.7 ± 19.3 [-15.8, 0.3]

46.2 ± 25.1

54.3 ± 21.1

6.9 ± 17.0 [0.1, 13.9]

14.6 [4.3, 25.0]

0.51

0.01*

   Total

36.6 ± 23.9

33.3 ± 22.5

-8.4 ± 17.8 [-15.8, -1.1]

47.2 ± 24.5

53.5 ± 20.3

6.5 ± 17.0 [0.5, 13.5]

15.0 [5.1, 24.9]

0.26

0.00*

ALF

36.5 ± 16.6

36.9 ± 20.7

-6.8 ± 10.3 [-11.0, -2.5]

32.2 ± 10.6

33.9 ± 10.9

0.8 ± 4.9 [-1.2, 2.8]

7.6 [2.9, 12.2]

0.02*

0.00*

SF-36

59.8 ± 19.7

62.2 ± 20.3

8.1 ± 21.8 [-0.8, 17.1]

61.1 ± 16.2

54.5 ± 15.4

-3.4 ± 14.6 [-9.5, 2.6]

-11.6 [-22.1, -1.0]

0.52

0.03*

VAS

3.30 ± 2.8

3.61 ± 2.9

-0.2 ± 3.2 [-1.5, 1.1]

5.22 ± 2.9

5.16 ± 2.22

0.6 ± 2.7 [-0.6, 1.7]

0.7 [-0.9, 2.4]

0.18

0.38

  1. Values are presented as mean ± SD.
  2. * The significance threshold was set at p ≤ 0.05. Intention to treat analysis was carried out with the last observation carried-forward method.
  3. CI = 95% confidence interval; MSM = methylsulfonylmethane; WOMAC = Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index graded from 0-100 mm, with 100 mm being the worst symptoms; ALF = Aggregated locomotor function in seconds; SF-36 = 36-item short-form health survey graded from 0-100, with 0 being the worst pain and quality of life; VAS = Visual-analogue-scale graded from 0-10 cm for pain, with 10 cm being the worst pain.